A Good Kind of Trouble
Author(s): Lisa Moore Rame
From debut author Lisa Moore Rame comes this funny and big-hearted debut middle grade novel about friendship, family, and standing up for whats right, perfect for fans of Angie Thomass The Hate U Give and the novels of Rene Watson and Jason Reynolds.
Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to dois to follow the rules. (Oh, and shed also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)
But in junior high, its like all the rules have changed. Now shes suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying shes not black enough. Wait, what?
Shays sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn’t think that’s for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She starts wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Soon everyone is taking sides. And she is given an ultimatum.
Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn’t face her fear, she’ll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now thats trouble, for real.
“Tensions are high over the trial of a police officer who shot an unarmed Black man. When the officer is set free, and Shay goes with her family to a silent protest, she starts to see that some trouble is worth making.” (Publishers Weekly, “An Anti-Racist Children’s and YA Reading List”)
Review(s):
Full of heart and truth, A Good Kind of Trouble has all of the making to be this generations Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Much like Cassie Logan, Shaylas experiences, pitfalls, and triumphs will inspire young people for years to come. It is a well-written page turner with a voice that stays with you long after you put the book down.
Shays voice is so genuineshe practically walks off the page. This is an important book, and an incredible debut.
Gripping from the opening line, A Good Kind of Trouble is a tender, insightful, and unique look at what it means to stand up for what you believe in and be brave. Shay is the type of heroine who inspires us all to take a stand.
Rame effectively portrays the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and the difficulty of navigating complex social situations while conveying universal middle school questions about friendship, first crushes, and identity. Shays journey is an authentic and engaging political and personal awakening.
Shayla navigates the world of middle school and the troubled world beyond with wit and endless heart. A timely, funny, and unforgettable debut about friendship, facing your fears, and standing up for whats right.
Reminiscent in writing style to works by Lauren Myracle and Jason Reynolds, this novel [shows] Shaylas typical middle school problems, then switches to the very specific problems she faces as a young black girl in America[For] middle grade readers who arent yet ready for Thomass The Hate U Give.
Shaylas narration is both sympathetic and acutely realistic. This is a sensitive exploration of contemporary racism and inequity for a readership not ready for Thomas The Hate U Give.
ISBN:9780062836694
